Inside the Australian and New Zealand book industry

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Patterson distributes US$267,000 to independent bookstores

Months after pledging to give US$1 million (A$1.11 million) to US independent bookstores, bestselling author James Patterson has begun distributing the funds. Publishers Weekly reports that Patterson has sent out cheques totalling US$267,000 (A$297,327) to 54 bookstores. The author will also give money to the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association in support of California Bookstore Day. The bookstore grants range from US$2000 (A$2227) to US$15,000 (A$16,703) per business and will be used for a variety of purposes, such as supporting bookstores that have been affected by extreme weather, upgrading bookstore buildings and computer systems, and creating or expanding school visiting programs. Patterson told Publishers Weekly that this is just the first round of grants and that he ‘want[s] to be inundated’ with more applications from booksellers. As previously reported by Books+Publishing, to receive the grants, the bookstores must have a viable business plan and a children’s section. ‘Everyday booksellers are out there saving our country’s literature’, said Patterson in a statement. ‘The work they do to support schools and the rest of their communities leaves a lasting love of reading in children and adults. What are we if we don’t have our own literature? I couldn’t be happier to, very humbly, support booksellers in their mission. Maybe that’s because it’s my mission as well.’ To see a list of the stores that have received grants so far, click here.

 

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Category: International news